Cushion mechanism



E. J. GLACKIN. `CUSHION MEcHANlsM. APPLlCATlON FILED MAR. 7. 192|.

1,418,912. PatentedJune 6,1922'.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' E. J. GLACKINQ CUSHION MECHANISNI.

APPLlcATloN FILED MAR. 7. |921.

1,418,912. Patented June 6, 1922.

s SHEETS-SHEET z.

E. J. GLAcKlN.

` CUSHIONMECHANISNI. APPLICATIONv FILED MAR. 7,1921.

1,418,912. y Pantedlune 6,1922.

a SHEETS-SHEET a.

STKE-'5 EDWARDJ. GLACKIN; F (.XIdIGiGrOi ILLINOS.

CUSHION MECHANISIVI.

Lei

Application filed March 7,

sorbers so mounted between the body and the chassis of a car that thebody is free to sway sidewise within its intended limits., without inany way interfering with the operation of the absorbers.

lt is linally concerned with certain simple and novel fittings wherebysuchi shock absorbers may be quickly and easily applied to the chassisand body of a motor car as supplementary to the springs with which vitis' initially equipped.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto three sheets of drawings inwhich the same reference charactcrs'are used to designate identicalparts in all the figures of which- Fig. l is a side elevation in dottedlines of a vehicle having` my improved shock absorber applied thereto inthe manner shown in the full lines of said ligure;

Figs. 2 and 3 are similar views, but on an enlarged scale, of a portionof the machine as seen in front and rear elevations;-

Fig. el isa similar view in section on a still larger scale on the lineifs/l of Fig. 2;

Fig. is a plan view in section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4i;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail ofaportion of themechanism shown in Fig. 4;n

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail in section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2;

l? S is similar enlarged detail in section ony the rline 8 8 of Fig. 31;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view ofa portion ofA one of the shock absorbersapp'lied'to the rear axle; and

Fig. 'lO is a detail in section, on an enlarged scale7 on the line lOwlOof Fig. 9.

ln illustrating my invention, I have shown it as applied to a well knowntype of machine in which the body 11 yhas at its front end thesupporting cross beam 12,.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented une 6, 1922;

1921. Serial No. 450,242.

which is of inverted Ushape in cross section, and has the bow spring 13ysecured at` its center in the cross beam by the Ll-'bolts` lll. At theendsof the bow spring are the links by which the ends of the spring areconnected to the supports 16y secured to the front axle 17 so that thefrontof the body is free to sway from sideto side within the limitpermitted by the'employment of the links l5. At the rear is across beamli, of an inverted U-shape in cross section,

and having the curved central portion 19 in which is placed'thesimilarly curved een.

tral portion of the bow spring 20 which is connected at its ends by thelinks 2liy with.

the brackets 22 projecting inwardly from the upper ends ofthe shallowcylinder casings 23 secured. to the ends of the hollow tapered axle 24having the customary diflerential gear casing 25 at its center. It willof course be understood that the structure thus far described is old andwell known, and per se, forms no part of'myin# vention.

The shock absorber units eachv'comprises a cylinder portion 26,-preferably made of metal, and having its lower end. closedair tight by acasting 27, which preferably takes the form of av bracket, assubsequently dcscribed, and has in its upper surface 'the annular seat28 in which the lower end of the cylinder 26 is brazed or soldered, orotherwise secured to make an air-tight joint. On the under side of thebracket is a downwardly projecting annular flange 29, which is employedto protect the valve 30 secured in the bottom of the cylinder and bywhichy the air inside can be compressed. The upper end of the cylinderis preferably provided with an enlargement 3l, which takes the form ofan annular liange having its upper portion internally threaded so as tobe engaged by the clamping ring 32 having the lower portion of itsexterior .threaded and its upper portion preferably hexagonal in itshorizontall outline so thaty a wrench can be readily applied thereto. Inthe space between the top of the cylinder 26 andithe flange 31 is anannular seat Bljwhich, as best seen in Fig. 6, is preferably rectangularin its vertical cross sectiomand'is adapted to receive the lower portionof the annular flange forming the bottom ofthe dome shaped cap 36, whichis preferably formed of rubber, reinforced with canvasor some othersuitable liber to give it increaseddurability. The flange is connectedwith 'the generally semiciroular body portion ot Vthe cap by a, neet 37,which rests on the top ot the cylinder 26, and is sunee'f'zed between itand the downwardly projf-otinu` nnnulzn' fla-nge portion 353 ot :idumping ringgj 3i?, the under surface of which is shaped to or,A4operate with the neck 37 and the upper portion ot the ienge 35. l ltstop is that, and is engaged by the bottom of the ring B2, the innersurface Ll() of whit-h is curved to oorrespond with the dome shapeassumed by the rubber oop 36i sind cap haring its normal shape that o'li:il dome, nud this l'ieino.v ot course enlarged somewhat when thecylinder is inflated through the valve 3d l have tonnd by experimentwith u siniilar cylinder and dorne shaped cop that when it is stronglyinflated und when a, henry pressure ,is applied thereto by the plungerto be hereinafter deseriberfh there is u very strongtendency tor the.tienne to pull out of its seat by being compressed and turned at rightangles to its normul shape und te remedy this. l insert in the 'HannieSf`| the metal ring); el, which is preteraoly u strip of spring` steelund ot the sinne general outline in cross section ns the lionne in whichit is embedded. when the cup is molded. l have tound that the employmentoi" this ring absolutely prevents any possibility ot the dome being`pulled out ol' its place, rind, when the parts ure assembled` :is showinand the ring 32 is screwed down tijfrht;r :in nir-tight joint isprodi'u'ed, and I usually further insure this joint beingv air-tight bydipping the tlange in u liquid cement before it is seated in the channelfehl. Cooper-- ating' with the dome or cup Sti .is the llead 4t2 of theplunger, which is preferably a heavy metul d'. with its under siderounded, as shown1 und suppfrirted by the threznled rod 43 screwed intothe reeess in the bottoni thereof. The upper end of the rod E pz esthrough en aperture in the brarlret rusting; 4A, which will have u shopeto be deseribod, und on the upper end l screw the uut lo to firmlyelainp in plume the washers ith which may be ol any desired Inateriahund which nre preilierubly oit dilterent thicknesses so thatvthey en beadjusted to :i ninety to Cause the ourved luider surtaee o. the head 4t2to rest lightly on the top o." the cap 36 when the absorbers are securedon the vehicle und the seme eontuins its average load.

The bracket 2T For the cylinders used with the front ot the rnaohine hasthe extension 4:7, best seen in Figs. i und 5N which ex'-A tension isprovided with the ujiwurdly projecting' lugs t8 und which torni a seatfor the bottom ot the axle 17, which is in the general torni` ot nn tbeam, of varying' heights, however. The extension if? is provided withtour apertures suitably located to rereive the lower ends of the parirof U- 52 through an enlurgement 5? of which entends the aperture tor thebolt 4:3. This rearwardly extending portion of the brneliet Le has thedownwardly and inwinvlly inclined portion 54, which is provided with thesent for the end oit the cross benin l2, on either side ot the pair o lupwardly projecting ribs 54 and also with the lugs 5353 provided withthe apertures 'For the lil-bolt 56 extending therethrough and over thecross bezirn l2. itssooiated with the l'n'wurd portion oi thisliirnoltet is the Ubel t 5i' pussing` through :uiertures in the brochetund which fits ove un extension of or an uttuthnient 5T to the ff rossbeam l2 in the manner seen. lWith this oonstructimi. it will be obvi onsthat the plunger 4t2 can be niiounted on each end ot the cross benin l0without in any way interfering' with its originel oonstruetion and inodeot operution und sinnlarly the brurltet 27 eun be mounted on the uxle soas to bring the oeps 3G directly beneath 'the plungers simply byapplyingthe psu-ts to the urlo und plneiirgund securing; the U-bolts.

For the roer u\:ley l provide the oustinns best seen in hl'f', f ll andllh :1nd the purts (,:ooperatine' n th the oylinderel 26 are the sauneas the brackets or uastinejs 5&7. 1he evteusion, however, is provided.Awith the pulir ot upwurdlj-f extending' projections 5l) und (Sth theinner surlnres oll which :ind the oon- 'neeting portion 'torni 'theseinioirenlur sont tor the taperingv hollow uxle 2h and the bruehet 58hns on either side ol these projections 5t) and 6l) the puir olfajlerturzs to receive the U-bolts (3l oooperuting with the axle and thebrarhet in the rustonia ry man nel'. is the orliiulrioal and tnperedtorni of the urlo let would render it Llil'lioult to keep the ports inplanea l 'lorm on the hruolret 55% un extension G2 lnivixnr un aperturetherein through which l pass the bolt G53, whirh ulso busses through unaperture in the end ofA the brare bar 3i-l which hns secured in its enda Li-bolt till, thriiugrh whioh passes the brave rod exten/.ling tromthe easing il?) toi-wurd to the rearh o l1 thoehnssis. The employmentol' this bruce rod serves to zur ehor the brurlut 5S in position, andsaid brochet and the bran-e bnr (iii ran be applied to the machine es itstunde. Cooperating 'with the cylinders on the rear axle nre the seineplungers 42 having, however, the lonpjor rods 4? and stem washers e6,end 'he upper ends ol' the'rods pass through pen tures in the brackets65 which like the brackets Llei have the generally right angular shape,but with the inwairiTlly projecting por tions 6G of a shape adapted tolit into the open under sides of the cross beam 19 with their inner endsresting on they cross pieces 67, which torni a part ot said cross beam19. A. boltGS` is passed through an aperture in the portion 6G oit thebracket andv also through an aperture which exists in the top ot thecross beam 18, thus serving'l to secure the rear plungers in place andreadyY to cooperate with the caps 3G.

lt willbe obvious that with the construction shown, the plungg'cis 4t2can have a con siderable amount oic lateral play without gettinz;` orlloit or out of cooperative relation with the caps 36, so that these shockal sorbers can be added to the machine without interfering in any waywith its opera tion, as the body trom time to time is still 'tree tosway sidewise relative to the chassis as much as the use of the links i5and 2l will permit.

While l have shown and described my invention in the ttorm which l atpresent consider liest adapted to carryout its purposes,

'it will be understood that it is capablev otA modifications, and that Ido not desire to hc limited in the interpretation ot the itollowf ing'claims except as may be necessitated by the state ot the prior art`illhat l claim as new. and desire to secure" byv Letters Patent ot thelllnited States, is

1. ln a vehicle, the combination with a chassis, ot a body, bow springs`interposed between the axles and the boey, link connections between theends yo'l'the springs and the aides. two pneumatic cidinders liavinpjdome-like Flexible tops attached to each of said axles toward the sideset' the body, and a plunger having` a. rounded'end cooperatiiig,v withAeach of the tops ot the cylinders so that they can move transverselyrelative thereto, said pluncers secured to the ends ot' the body beamsto which the' centers oit the bow springs are secured.

f lu a vehicle, the ffombination with a ol: a body. bow springsinterposed between the axle and the body. two pneuin atie cylindersattach ed to each ot said Xles toward the sides o'l` the body. a plungereooperatinp; with each et the evii'iders. said pluiifgers being??secured to the ends ot the body beams to which the centers o'it theb'owsprings are secured, brace rods` extendin'c; trom the ends ot the rearaxle to the reach. and tie pieces extending troni the base of the rearcylinders to the brace rods.

3. In vehicle. tljie combination with hodvhavine transverseheams,rinverted lilshape in cross section, secured to the front and rearthereot. ot a chassis, bow springs secured atl their centers in thetransverse body beams,V connections between the ends of the bow springsand the twoy axle bars permitting transverse movement of vthe bodyrelative to the chassis, downwardly entending plungers supported .tromthe ends oit the body beams and moving transvc sely therewith, andpneumatic cylinders supporcl trom the axles yand extending upwardlytherefrom directly beneath thc plungers which cooperate therewith andcan more transversely thereof within the limits olf die transversemovement permitted by the spring` connections. f y

et. ln ay vehicle, the combination with a body having transverse beams,inverted l3- shape in cross section, secured to the 'lront and rearthereoi", ol a chassis, bow springs secured at their centers in thetransverse body beams, connections between the ends oi" the bow springsand the two axlebars, downwardly extending` plungers supported i Alrointhe ends ot the body beams, pneumatic cylA inders supported from theaxles and entendv ing,` upwardly therefrom directly beneath the plungerswhich cooperate therewith,- and brackets connected tol the plungers andcylinders and shaped so as to be secured by U4 bolts to the body beamsand axles.

5. ln a vehicle, the combination with arear axle, ot a pneumaticcylinder having` its base formed with a` bracket adapted to lit to theunder side oi the axle, a Ubolt cooperating with the aille and thebracket to secure theflatter in place-on the axle, .a brace rodextending` r from the end of the asile to' the reach, 'and a tie piecesecured to the bracket and the brace rod tor tiek purpose described. f

G. ln a. device of the class described, the combination with anair-tight metallic cup closed at the bottom, saidcup beingprovided atits top with an annular "channel, ot a fieri-- ble dome-like capadaptedk to be seated in said channel and to be reversed into the cup,

theportion ot saidcap entering` the channel beingv provided with ametallic ring` embedded therein vtor the purpose described, and a ring.`securedon thetop of the cup and holding` the 'cap in place forming*y anairtight joint between it and the cup tor the purpos described.

7. ln ay device of the class described, the combination. withv anairtight inet-allie cup closedl at the botizom, said cup being lproVvided at its top with an annular chaniiel,oi`

a' flexible domedike capr adapted 'to be seated in said channel and tobe reversed intor the cup, theportion yof' saidcap enterinrxthe channelbeing` provided with a metallic ring; embedded therein forthe purposede. ibedly said ring' being elongated in cross section parallel to theaxis thereof, and a ring secured onthe top of the cup and holding` thecap in place forming an air-tight joint between it and the cup tor thepurposedescribed. f i

iso

8. ln a device of the class described, the combination with an air-tightmetallic cup closed at the bottom, said cup being provided at its top`with an annular channel and at the bottom having` a bracket termedintegrally therewith by which. it may be secured to the axle ot avehicle, oi a flexible domelilre cap adapted to be seated in saidchannel and to be reversed into the cup, and a ring secured on the topof the cup and holding the cap in place forming an air-tight jointbetween it and the cup for the purpose described.

f), ln a device ol" the class described., the combination with anair-tight metallic cup closed at the bottom, said cup being provided atits top with an annular channel and at its bottom with means forsecuring it to the axle et a vehicle, of a Hexible domeeliltc capadapted to be seated in said channel and to be reversed into the cup, aring secured on the top oil the cup and holding;4 the cap in placeforming an air-tight joint between it and the cup :tor the purposedescribed, a rounded head. adapted to cooperate with the top ol the cap,a stem 'for said head, and means for securing the stem to the body of avehicle.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination with anair-tight metallic cup closed. at the bottom, said cup being provided atits top with an annular channel and at its bottom with means Forsecuring it to the axle of a vehicle, oil: a flexible dome-like capadapted to be seated in said channel and to be reversed into the cup` arino; secured on the top ot the cup and holding' the cap in placeforming' an air-tight joint between it and the cup 'for the purposedescribed, a rounded head adapted to cooperate with the top ol the cap,a stem for said, head, and a bracket secured to the stem and adapted tobe secured to the body ot the vehicle.

l1. In a device of the class described, the combination with anair-tight metalliccup closed at the bottom, said cup being` provided atits top with an annular channelv and with th reads, ot a flexibledoulelike cap adapted to be seated in said channel and to be reversedinto the cup without enffaging the walls thereof, and a ring1 screwed onto the end ol the cup and securing the cap in place formingan air-tightjoint between it andthe cup `l'or the purpose described, said ringhaving' its upper inner portion shaped to lit comple-mentarily on theexpanded cap.

l2. ln a device ol the class described, the combination with anair-tight metallic cup closed at the bottom, said cup beinprovided atits top with an annular channel and at its bottom with a pneumaticvalve, oill a flexible dome-like cap adapted to be seated in saidchannel and to be reversed into the cup, and a ring; secured on the topof the cup and holding the cap in place forming an airtight jointbetween it and the joint for the purpose described, the bottoni ot thecup having a bracket Yformed integrally therewith by which it may besecured to the axle of a veu hicle, said bracket having;- a downwardlyeK- tending flange surrounding the valve to protect it.

13. .11n air cushion comprising` a metallic cylinder havingone endclosed air-tight and the other end provided with a screw thread on itsrim and an inwardly extending flange forming an annular channel betweenit and the rim, an elastic` comparatively shallow dome-shaped cup thiclienough to malte it self-supporting, adapted to have its body invertedinto the cylinder and having an enlarged' rim fitting into the annularchannel, a. gasket nut screwed `on to the cylinder to press the rim intothe channel to malte an air-tight joint under high pressure and preventit being pulled out by said pressure, a plunger materially less indiameter than the diameter ot the cup cooperating therewith, and aninflation valve connect-ed to the 1ne tallic cup.

14. An air cushion comprising a metallic cylinder having one end closedair-tight and the other end provided with afthread on its rim and aflange extending inwardly or1ning an annular channel between it and therim, an elastic cup adapted to have its body forced into the cylinderand having an enlarged rim litting into and entirely fillingr theannular channel and. above it an annular surface, a metallic washerresting on said surface, a `jaslet nut Screwed on to the rim andengaging' the upper surface of the washer tor the purpose described, andan inflation valve for the cylinder.

ln a shock absorber -tor vehicle-s, the combination with a supportadapted to be secured to a chassis, ot an opposed support adapted to besecured to a body, a rigid nietallic cup secured lo and projecting'troni one support and having' an edge o'.l its rim threaded and providedbelow said threaded edge with a flange extending; inwardly, a rubbercup` having vits sott enlarged rim shaped to fit snugly into andentirely fill the annular recess formed between the 'flange and theadjacent wall `oli the cup, and having` an external annular A[langesurface, a gasket nut threaded into the top et' themetallic cup andhavinpj its bottoni adapted to compress the sott rubber rim into theannular recess to make an air-tight joint, connee tions between thesupports to permit them to be moved toward and from each other withincertain limits, an inflation valve connected to the metallic cup, and aplunger carried by the other support and cooperatingr with the top otthe rubber cup, substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. 1n a device of the class described, the combination with anair-tight metallic cup closed at the bottom, said cup being provided atits top with an annular seat, of a flexible placebetween the cup andring, forming an air-tight joint for the purpose described, and aninflation valve secured in a Wall of the Cup whereby the pressuretherein may be 15 directly controlled.

In Witness whereof, l have hereunto set, iny hand and affixed my seal,this 26th day of February, A. D. 1921.

EDWARD J. GLACKN. [Ls] JOHN HGWARD MCELROY.

